BOSTON - The state House of Representatives on Monday approved a bill to increase the state's sales tax from 5 percent to 6.25 percent, in a late-night vote designed to raise $900 million a year in new revenues for local aid and other programs.

It would be the largest broad-based tax increase since 1990 when legislators hiked the income tax and the gas tax during a fiscal crisis.

Capping a long day of political drama, the House voted 108-51 for a 25 percent increase in the sales tax, the first jump in that tax since 1975. The margin narrowly provides enough votes to assure an override of a threatened veto by Gov. Deval L. Patrick.

HOW THEY VOTED

Here's how House members from Western Massachusetts voted on a bill to raise the state's sales tax from 5% to 6.25%. A yes vote is in favor of the bill.

Rep. Brian M. Ashe, D-Longmeadow: YES

Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams: YES

Rep. Sean F. Curran, D-Springfield: NO

Rep. Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera, D-Springfield: YES

Rep. Christopher J. Donelan, D-Greenfield: YES

Rep. Ann M. Gobi, D-Spencer: YES

Rep. Denis E. Guyer, D-Dalton: YES

Rep. Donald F. Humason, R-Westfield: NO

Rep. Michael F. Kane, D-Holyoke: YES

Rep. Peter V. Kocot, D-Northampton: YES

Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington: YES

Rep. Thomas M. Petrolati, D-Ludlow: YES

Rep. William Pignatelli, D-Lenox: YES

Rep. Angelo J. Puppolo, D-Springfield: NO

Rep. Rosemary Sandlin, D-Agawam: NO

Rep. John W. Scibak, D-South Hadley: YES

Rep. Todd M. Smola, R-Palmer: NO

Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst: YES

Rep. Benjamin Swan, D-Springfield: YES

Rep. Joseph F. Wagner, D-Chicopee: YES

Rep. James T. Welch, D-West Springfield: YES

House Minority Leader Bradley H. Jones, R-North Reading, slammed Democrats for approving the increase without first holding a public hearing. Jones also questioned the need for a vote that came when many people were sleeping. The vote to increase the sales tax came at 11 last night.

"Why are we doing this in the cover of darkness?" Jones asked.

Approval of the Senate is also needed to send the proposed increase to the governor. The Senate is expected to vote on the sales tax next month when it considers its version of the state budget.

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo, D-Winthrop, plans to spend about $275 million of the increase in the sales tax on transportation. DeLeo also is seeking to dedicate about $200 million to help offset $424 million in cuts to local aid.

Legislators hiked the sales tax on the first day of debate on the $27.4 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

A budget by the House Ways and Means Committee closed $3.6 billion projected deficit in the budget partly with $1.8 billion in cuts to most programs in state government.

Rep. Jay R. Kaufman, D-Lexington, told legislators that the increase in the sales tax will restore money to public health, home care for the elderly, education and efforts to prevent teenage pregnancy.

Kaufman said it was "exceedingly difficult" to vote to raise taxes during the economic downturn.

"The alternatives are far worse," Kaufman said. "The consequences are dire."

The vote came after Patrick said he would veto the increase in the sales tax unless legislators first pass a series of measures to improve government. Patrick sent a letter to all legislators, pledging to reject the bill.

"We will get to a good result," Patrick told reporters on Monday. "But I don't believe we can go to the public and ask for any broad-based tax increase unless we get meaningful outcomes on the reform measures that are pending."

Patrick criticized the Legislature for failing to move fast enough on his proposals to reform pension, ethics and transportation.

Debate in the Legislature ground to a halt in the afternoon, after Patrick sent his letter to legislators.

"Before we consider any broad-based tax increase, we must first regain the public's confidence in government's ability to steward public funds wisely," Patrick wrote in the three-page letter.

The House speaker then began working to secure a two-thirds majority, or enough votes to assure an override of a possible veto. DeLeo didn't reveal specific plans to increase the sales tax until Sunday.

Rep. John W. Scibak, D-South Hadley, said an increase in the sales tax is equitable and will raise revenues to restore money to state services.

"It's less painful," Scibak said. "It's something that affects everyone the same way across the commonwealth."

Scibak said an increase in the sales tax is far better than Patrick's proposal to hike the gas tax by 19 cents a gallon.

Republicans in the House, some Democrats and business leaders opposed the increase in the sales tax, saying it would hurt businesses already struggling with the recession.

Rep. Donald F. Humason Jr., R-Westfield, said legislators need to streamline government and reduce spending to match state revenues.

Jon B. Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, said increasing the sales tax means consumers will shop more in New Hampshire and on the Internet. There is no sales tax in New Hampshire.

"It's a sad day for Main Street Massachusetts," Hurst said after the vote. "It's not over yet. We are going to continue to fight in the Senate."

But Peter G. Christie, president of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association, said the organization is not opposed to a statewide increase in the 5 percent sales tax.

Christie said an increase in the state sales tax is more fair than Patrick's bill that would give cities and towns the option of establishing a 1 percent sales tax on restaurant meals. That would single out restaurants and create a patchwork of taxes, he said.